I do not breathe your politics
"Comment is free but facts are sacred." (C.P. Scott)
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Grim news shocks european country
To: Editorial staff
From: website QA team
Subject: 'shocks' headlines
All,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4740073.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4737641.stm
I realise that these are newsworthy examples of why we're better than Europeans (we did all this dead babies stuff AGES ago), but in neither case do you actually interview the entire country concerned to find out its view. In fact, in each case you only talk to government ministers or the odd local.
If you have, in fact, interviewed the entire country but it doesn't wish to go on the record, please put "A european country close to the scandal, speaking on condition of anonymity". Otherwise it just looks like lazy reporting.
I have contacted the technical team responsible for the headline generator, and provided them with suitable synonyms for 'shocked'. I have also suggested new headline formats for use with 'Eww, Europe' stories.
Thanks,
The QA Team
posted by Michael at 8/02/2005 11:46:00 PM |